HeiressofBickworth
HeiressofBickworth's JournalI'm heartbroken (UPDATE-1)
I took her to an oncology vet. She has a sinus tumor that is pressing on her eye, increasing the pressure in her eye and ultimately pressure on her brain.
I have had to do the one thing I didn't want to have to do. I had to make a decision for my kitty based on finances. The vet was very explicit about the various treatments available. I then asked her for the cost of each treatment type. Radiation - about $8,000 and would extend her life by maybe a year or so. There is a new type of radiation treatment that is only available in a clinic on the opposite side of the state which would be about $10,000 plus travel and lodging expenses. Chemotherapy would be $450 A WEEK! for eight weeks. Again, only extending her life by a year or so. And there is no way to know if she would even tolerate the treatments. It just isn't possible to come up with that much money for so little outcome. The plan now is to give her steroids to reduce the pressure of the tumor and a glaucoma eye drop to reduce the pressure in her eye. There are two different cell types for sinus tumors. It would cost another $200 to take a test to determine which one. If she has one type, the steroid/eyedrop treatment could work for one to two months; if she has the other type, it could work for up to six months. I opted to forego the test because it doesn't make a difference in the long run.
So far, she has come out from under the bed and is engaging with us as before, she is eating and drinking just fine. Her eye looks odd but I was told that the eyedrop would raise the third eyelid and contract the iris. We'll just watch her for signs that she is getting worse or suffering. Vet said she would eventually lose the sight in that one eye (not so far!) and that when the pressure is on her brain, she will have a seizure. We won't let her suffer.
Probably more detail than most of you want to know, but I give it for anyone who is going through the same thing.
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Vet says tests show that my lovely black long-hair kitty has lymphoma. She is only eight. From what I've found on the internet, prognosis is 4 to 6 weeks without treatment and maybe six months with treatment. Perhaps a little longer, if lucky. Vet has referred us to an oncologist vet.
Realistically, it will be a process of deciding when, not if, to let her go.
We have two other eight-year old cats and a five-year old dog but as pet-lovers know, they are each distinctive individuals, loved for who they are.
A cousin of mine
was approached by Oprah's show to appear to discuss how she placed consequences on a disruptive pre teen. When she was there, the topic was irresponsible parents with her as the example. I know this family very well and it was bullshit. She was humiliated.
Years later, an attorney I was working for was approached regarding a self help grief group he started for young people who had a spouse who died. There are lots of grief groups for seniors who have lost a spouse but none for young people. His wife died at about 30, I think. I told him of my cousin's experience with Oprah's show and told him that I believed that no matter what was told to him to get him to go on the show, there was a good chance that it would be something else when he got there. He knew when the show was supposed to air. He decided not to do it and after he watched the show, he thanked me for the warning. Turned out the show was about getting dates and setting the guests up with dates and nothing about dealing with grief at a young age.
After knowing two examples, I pretty much have the opinion that she is a manipulative, dishonest, self-promoter and it makes me sick to think that Democrats would fall for a cult of personality.
I'm going to throw cold water on this
Yes, Oprah gave a good speech. Why not, she is, after all, a performer. We don't need another TV personality blinding us with a good performance but lacking any governmental knowledge or experience. Hell, that's what we have now.
Any attempt by her to enter national politics will bring out of the woodwork every person she lied to and tricked to get a good show and increase her ratings. And yes, I believe she did that because I know two people it happened to.
We, Democrats, have to carefully vet any candidate we put up for the Presidency. Failure will give us another four years of Republican rule.
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Gender: Do not displayCurrent location: Snohomish County, WA
Member since: Wed May 18, 2011, 02:12 AM
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